PRESENT PARTICIPIAL ADJECTIVE -ING
PAST PARTICIPIAL ADJECTIVE -ED

 Cause or source (agent) of the feeling or emotion – The present participle serves as an adjective formed from an active verb.
Receiver of the feeling or emotion – The past participle serves as an adjective formed from the passive form of the verb.

SOURCE
RECEIVER

The clown was entertaining the family. (active verb)
The family was entertained by the clown. (passive verb)

The clown was entertaining. (present participial adjective )
The family was entertained. (past participial adjective )

Other Participial Adjectives
CAUSE OF THE FEELING
Describe the feeling and knowledge of others
RECEIVER OF THE FEELING
Describe the feeling and knowledge of the subject

alarming
frustrating
alarmed
frustrated

amazing
astounding
amazed
astounded

amusing
humiliating
amused
humiliated

annoying
interesting
annoyed
interested

astonishing
intriguing
astonished
intrigued

boring
overwhelming
bored
overwhelmed

compelling
perplexing
compelled
perplexed

concerning
pleasing
concerned
pleased

confusing
relaxing
confused
relaxed

depressing
interesting
depressed
interested

embarrassing
relieving
embarrassed
relieved

encouraging
satisfying
encouraged
satisfied

energizing
shocking
energized
shocked

enlightening
stunning
enlightened
stunned

entertaining
surprising
entertained
surprised

exciting
terrifying
excited
terrified

exhausting
tiring
exhausted
tired

frightening
 fascinating
frightened
fascinated

surprising
disappointing
surprised
disappointed

shocking
worrying
shocked
worried

exciting
exhausting
excited
exhausted

disgusting

disgusted


 Common Mistakes
ERROR
FIX

I was surprising to see sheep walking on the road.
I was surprised to see sheep walking on the road. Use surprised instead of surprising as the adjective for the receiver of the feeling or emotion.

The towers of the Golden Gate Bridge are very impressing from below.
The towers of the Golden Gate Bridge are very impressive from below. Use impressive instead of impressing as the adjective for the source of the feeling or emotion.

Participial Adjectives -ed / -ing
As Modifiers to Subjects
Cause (Source) vs. Receiver
PRESENT PARTICIPIAL ADJECTIVE -ING
PAST PARTICIPIAL ADJECTIVE -ED

 Cause of the feeling or emotion – The present participle serves as an adjective formed from an active verb.
 Receiver of the feeling or emotion – The past participle serves as an adjective formed from the passive form of the verb.

 An amusing ride
 The ride causes amusement.
 An amused child
 The child receives the feeling of amusement.

Interesting people will will speak during the 2-day class. (People cause others to feel interest.)
Interested people can sign up for the 2-day class. (The people feel interest in the subject.)

Boring speakers put their attendees to sleep. (The speaker causes others to be bored.)
Bored speakers should find something exciting to say. (The speaker feels boredom while speaking!)

Amusing short films are shown at the animated film festival. (The films cause the amusement.)
Amused viewers enjoy the short films. (The viewers feel the amusement.)

Overwhelming amounts of work are given to University students. (The amount of work causes the overwhelming.)
Overwhelmed students end up dropping a course or two. (The students feel overwhelmed.)

EXERCISES

My bath was_________. I feel _________now. (RELAX)
(relaxing/relaxed)
Joe is _________ because he had a _________day. (TIRE)
Tired/ tiring
How to get the cheese was _________. The mouse was _________.(CONFUSE)
(confusing/confused)
So much homework was _________. The student felt _________.(OVERWHELM)
overwhelming/overwhelmed
Your jokes are _________. I am _________.(AMUSE)
amusing, amused
I was so _________by the movie. The scenes in the movie were _________.(TOUCH)
touched/touching
The TV program was _________. I felt _________while watching it. (BORE)
Boring/bored
My angry father`s words were _________. I felt_________.(UPSET)
upsetting/ upset
The nurse`s big needle was _________. I felt _________when she walked over to me! (FRIGHTEN)
Frightening/ frightened
Ted forgot to close his zipper. It was _________. Ted felt _________.(EMBARRASS)
embarrassing/embarrassed
Getting hit in the behind with an arrow was _________. Lancelot felt _________.(HUMILIATE)
humiliating/ humiliated
My alarm clock wouldn`t stop ringing. I was _________. The sound was _________.(ANNOY)
annoyed/annoying
I was _________after reading the _________news headlines. (ALARM)
alarmed/alarming
The movie, King Kong, was _________. The children who were watching it were ______.(TERRIFY)
terrifying/terrified
I felt _________ after getting a